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Cooking fires increase as the holidays begin

Despite the wet rain and snow associated with the cooler months ahead, there are typically more home fires and home fire deaths in late fall and winter than in any other time of the year.

Preparing for the coming season is the first step in addressing safety. Public safety organizations offer ideas and ways on how to keep safe; such as a printable checklist of reminders, that include checking that vents, furnaces and appliances have been inspected and serviced.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries, and the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

The number of cooking fires peak at Thanksgiving with roughly three times the average number of cooking fires. Christmas and Christmas Eve rank second and third in cooking fires. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of these fires.

Fires from home heating is the second leading cause of home fire deaths and injuries, behind smoking.

In 2007-2011, most home heating fire deaths and injuries involved stationary or portable space heaters.

For tips, videos and other information on how to prevent cooking, heating and other types of fires, visit www.nfpa.org/winter and www.usfa.fema.gov/winter for an extensive list of resources to brush up on fire safety.

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